Before land acknowledgement, we must first understand what it is. Land acknowledgement is the process of recognizing and honoring the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded the land we live on throughout history. It is a way of acknowledging the violence and exploitation that Indigenous peoples have faced at the hands of settler colonialism, and a way of recommitting to the work of reconciliation.
There are many ways to do land acknowledgement, but one way to start is by simply taking a moment to reflect on the land you are on and the people who have stewarded it throughout history. If you don't know the history of the land you are on, there are many resources available to help you learn. Once you have a basic understanding of the history of the land, you can begin to think about how you might acknowledge the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded it.
There are many ways to do this, but one way is to simply say something like, "I would like to acknowledge the [insert name of Indigenous people] who have stewarded this land for generations. I am grateful for the opportunity to live on this land, and I will strive to be a good steward of it myself. I also commit to learning more about the history of this land and the experiences of Indigenous peoples so that I can work toward reconciliation."
Of course, there is no one right way to do land acknowledgement, and you can tailor your words to fit your own experiences and relationships to the land. The important thing is that you take the time to reflect on the history of the land you are on and the people who have stewarded it, and that you commit to learning more and working toward reconciliation.
